The NJ Department of Transportation is planning changes to the section of road in North Bergen where Route 3 eastbound meets Route 495, the scene of a deadly crash on July 3.

Three people died in the crash, at the same location where three people died in an accident last August.

A DOT spokesman indicated that the deadly section of roadway, where Route 3 curves and merges with the 495 approach to the Lincoln Tunnel, would be addressed as part of a larger project involving the 495 viaduct.

The driver of the car, a white Mercedes station wagon, was allegedly under the influence of alcohol. Authorities believe that speed was a factor in the crash.

Canadian woman arrested for allegedly killing a duckling

Police have arrested a Canadian woman outside Palisades Medical Center on charges that she killed a duckling on hospital property, according to a story on NJ.com.

A man visiting a relative in the hospital took video footage of the Canadian woman making a U-turn in the hospital parking lot, jumping out of her vehicle, and allegedly attacking a group of ducks. Although a mother duck tried to protect her brood, the woman seriously injured one of the ducklings.

Animal Cruelty Investigator Geoffrey Santini was called to the scene. The duckling died en route to Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus.

The woman, a resident of Quebec who was visiting a family member at the hospital, was arrested by North Bergen police on Monday, June 30 on charges of animal cruelty for needlessly killing an animal, a third-degree offense.

Kids ride free on NY Waterway ferries this summer

Kids 12 and under ride free on NY Waterway ferries between New Jersey and Manhattan from July 7 through Labor Day, Sept. 1.

It takes less than 10 minutes to cross the Hudson River from Port Imperial, Lincoln Harbor, or 14th Street in Hoboken to West 39th Street in Manhattan, and service on these routes operates all day, seven days a week. It takes less than 25 minutes to cross from these New Jersey terminals to lower Manhattan.

Free connecting multi-route NY Waterway buses take passengers on several routes serving New Jersey and midtown and downtown Manhattan. Buses stop at key destinations such as the Empire State Building, Macy’s, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, Bryant Park, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

NY Waterway also offers a New York City discount program, offering up to 56 percent savings on many of New York’s top iconic attractions and Broadway shows, along with a ferry discount. For more information on NY Waterway’s “Your Key to the City” discount program visit www.nywaterway.com/MyKey or call 1-800-53-FERRY.

Sen. Sweeney held ‘private discussions’ about bringing gambling to North Jersey

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, who has been one of the most vocal opponents of bringing gambling to North Jersey, revealed to The Record this week that he has been in private discussions with officials for the past year regarding allowing casinos in the region.

Sweeney, a Democrat from South Jersey, has repeatedly stated that allowing gambling to North Jersey would further damage the already struggling Atlantic City gambling industry. Publicly he has strongly supported Gov. Christopher Christie’s five-year ban on any discussion of allowing gambling in the state outside of Atlantic City. The ban was part of a plan approved by Christie in 2011 to revitalize Atlantic City.

However, Sweeney said on July 2 that he has been in discussion privately with North Jersey officials about the possibility of adding the proposal to a November 2015 ballot, rather than waiting till November 2016. He noted that it was too late to include a referendum on the 2014 ballot.

Sweeney said his change of heart is contingent on Atlantic City receiving financial support from gaming facilities in other regions.

The Meadowlands are considered a prime location for casino gambling if it is allowed in North Jersey, with Jersey City also mentioned as a possibility.

Revenues in Atlantic City have declined by about half since their peak in 2006. One Atlantic City casino closed its doors this past January, another is scheduled to close on Aug. 31, and a third potentially may close in August if a buyer cannot be found.

Meadowlands Hospital joins effort to speed care for veterans Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center (MHMC) President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas B. Considine announced on July 7 that MHMC has signed a contract that will allow the hospital to help alleviate extended wait times for veterans in need of medical care. MHMC will treat veterans as part of the HealthNet Federal Services’ Patient-Centered Community Care (PCCC) program, which supplements existing U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) facilities.

The PCCC program is an extension network of the VA designed to reduce wait times for primary and specialty care and supplements the federal healthcare system for American armed services veterans. In New Jersey, it is expected that the program will reduce wait times by 80 percent.

PCCC provides inpatient and outpatient primary care, specialty care, and behavioral healthcare for eligible veterans when the local VA Medical Center cannot provide the services due to a lack of available physicians or specialists, long wait times, or if there is an extraordinary distance from the veteran’s home.

Covered services under the PCCC program will be limited to medical services defined in the referral from the VA. In addition to primary care services, common specialty services covered are inpatient and outpatient healthcare services, including, but not limited to, pathology, radiology/diagnostic imaging, surgery, oncology, gastroenterology, cardiology, labor and delivery, and emergency services.

Close encounters with birds of prey – seniors event on July 17

Join Bill Streeter, director of the Delaware Valley Raptor Center, on Thursday, July 17 at 1 p.m. for this free educational event at the Meadowlands Environment Center, 2 DeKorte Park Plaza, Lyndhurst. You’ll see six live raptors, including falcons, and spend a magical hour gaining a greater knowledge and appreciation of these awesome creatures of the northeast. Streeter will entertain and educate with the knowledge he has accumulated through more than 30 years of studying and rehabilitating raptors. Bring your grandchildren. Registration is recommended and appreciated. (201) 777-2431

NJMC fifth annual Butterfly Day set for Sunday, July 27

The New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) is pleased to announce it will host its Fifth Annual Butterfly Day at DeKorte Park in Lyndhurst on Sunday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The very popular, family-friendly event includes frequent butterfly walks led by butterfly experts, short talks and slide shows, a scavenger hunt and butterfly costume contest for kids, and information tables. Last year more than 600 people attended Butterfly Day.

Butterflies commonly seen in DeKorte Park at this time of year include Black Swallowtails, Eastern Tiger Swallowtails and Pearl Crescents.

Butterfly Day is co-sponsored by the Bergen County Audubon Society (BCAS) and the North Jersey Chapter of the North American Butterfly Association. The BCAS will have tables set up with information on butterfly identification, binoculars and gardening to attract butterflies. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lunches. Food will not be sold at Butterfly Day. The rain date is Sunday, Aug. 3. For more information, contact Jim Wright at (201) 460-2002.